Helen "Bette" Tudhope, 84, of Port Huron died of natural causes Tuesday in the home her late husband built nearly 50 years ago.

Mrs. Tudhope was the president of the family-owned Tudhope Optical Co. on Pine Grove Avenue and a founding member of St. Mary Church on Ballentine Street.

Family members Friday morning grieved the loss of the woman who headed their family - which mostly consists of two daughters and sons-in-law, one grandson and three granddaughters - during a funeral mass at the church.

"I was her only grandson and she always was the one who took care of me any time I needed help," said James Wiegand, 20, of Fort Gratiot. "She would do things just for me that no one would have to know about."

Mrs. Tudhope's daughter, Susan Wiegand, said Bette often contributed to charities but never wanted her good deeds publicized.

"My mother was a very private person, very family-oriented," Mrs. Wiegand said. "She did a lot of charity work that we really don't know a lot about because she never wanted to brag about it."

Mrs. Wiegand said the Tudhopes' father, J. Harry Tudhope, who died in 1990, started the optical business in the 1940s. Mrs. Tudhope spent most of her adult life raising her children and helping out at the company when needed.

After her husband died, she took over financial duties at Tudhope Optical and looked over daily activities.

Richard Huston, 61, of Port Huron has worked for the Tudhopes for nearly 40 years. He also is a member of St Mary parish.

"After working with them all those years, I feel like I've really become a member of their family," Mr. Huston said. "Bette was close to all of us."

Mrs. Wiegand said her mother died in her sleep Tuesday, probably of a heart attack. She lived by herself at 3365 Hickory Lane. She also owned a cottage on the lake in Fort Gratiot.

"Her death was pretty much unexpected, but at least it was a peaceful death," Mrs. Wiegand said.

Father Stanley Wyczawski, pastor of St. Mary Church, officiated Mrs. Tudhope's funeral mass. She was buried at Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery on Krafft Road.